Badge construction



March 17, 1959 R. A. KLJTZNER 2,877,578

BADGE CONSTRUCTION Filed March 27, 1957 IN VENTOR.

United States Patent BADGE CONSTRUCTION Robert A. Klitzner, Cranston, R. I., assignor to Harry Klitzner Co., Inc., a corporation of Rhode Island Application March 27, 1957, Serial No. 648,851

1 Claim. (Cl. 40-1.5)

The present invention pertains generally to badge constructions, and more particularly to badges of the type generally distributed and worn at conventions, sales meetings, and the like.

A primary object of the instant invention is the provision of a convention badge having separable mounting means, which means are of utilitarian value in and of themselves, whereupon after the badge proper has been discarded, said mounting means may still perform a useful and ornamental function.

An important object of my invention is the provision of a convention badge adapted to be mounted in operative position on the wearers apparel by means of a tie holder, brooch pin, or lapel pin.

A further object of the instant invention is the provision of a convention badge having novel and easily operable means for detachably securing said badge in readily visible position on the wearers clothing.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of a convention badge of the character described which is simple and economically feasible to manufacture but which, nevertheless, is highly efiicient and attractive in use.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated by me for carrying out my invention:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of a convention badge constructed in accordance with the instant invention, portions of the mounting clip being broken away for purposes of illustration;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a top view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a side edge view thereof with the mounting holder removed;

Fig. 5 is a front perspective view of the insert card which forms a part of my invention;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary front elevation of a modified form of badge construction, with the mounting holder removed;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary front elevation of still another modified form of the instant invention, with the mounting holder removed;

Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 9 is a section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 7.

It has been found desirable to provide a convention badge specifically designed to receive a conventional article of jewelry, such as a tie holder, brooch pin, or lapel pin, wherein said item of jewelry not only adds to the ornamental attractiveness of the badge, but at the same time, functions as the mounting means therefor. The combination is so constructed as to enable the mounting holder to be readily detached from the badge when it is desired to discard the latter whereupon said jewelry item may continue to function in its normal capacity. Preferably, the jewelry item is ornamented to blend in with the decor Patented Mar. 17, 1959 of the particular convention toward which its use is directed. In other words, where the convention badges are designed for use at an Elks convention, for example, the mounting means may be adorned with the Elks em blem, whereby to provide a lasting souvenir of the occasion.

It is thought that the instant invention represents a considerable step forward in the art, since heretofore convention badges of this general type usually comprised mounting means which constituted an integral part of the badge. Not only does this conventional type of mounting means fail to contribute to and enhance the overall attractiveness of the badge, but it also follows that said mounting means serves no useful function after use of the badge per se has been consummated. It will be obvious that the instant invention is of considerable practical importance and benefit, since at virtually all conventions of organizational or fraternal groups, badges of this type are passed out to the members so that the names and afiiliations of the various individuals may be prominently displayed.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly *to Figs. 1 through 5 thereof, there is shown generally at 10 a convention badge constructed in accordance with the instant invention. As will be noted, the badge 10 comprises an upper section 12 of generally rectangular contour and having an integral, depending web portion 14 integrally joining with the front wall 16 of lower section 18. The lower section 18 actually comprises a pocket for the reception of insert card 20, and in this respect, the front wall 16 is provided with side extensions 22 and a bottom extension 24, the latter extensions being adapted to be folded rearwardly in the manner clearly shown in Fig. 2. Thus, in effect, the extension 24 comprises the rear wall of lower section 18, while the side extensions 22 function as retaining means for maintaining the pocket in its assembled, operative position. The front wall 16 is provided with an opening 26 therein whereby the insert card 20 may be printed with any suitable indicia which will then be visible through the opening or window 26 when the card is mounted within the lower section pocket, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. It will be understood that the badge proper 10 may be constructed of any suitable and foldable material, such as cardboard, metal foil, or the like. I prefer to use aluminum foil, however. It will further be understood that any suitable advertising or ornamental indicia may be printed on the front surface of upper and lower sections 12 and 18, respectively.

An important feature of the instant invention resides in the particular means utilized for mounting the badge 10 in operative and readily visible position on the wearers apparel. This I prefer to accomplish by means of a clip, generally designated at 28, which clip actually comprises a conventional tie holder, having a bar portion 30 with a spring loaded clip 32 secured to the rear surface thereof, all in a manner well known in the art. As will be noted, the web portion 14 of the badge 10 is somewhat less in width than the adjacent upper and lower sections and is of substantially the same configuration as that of bar 30. Thus, the clip member 28 may be conveniently engaged over said web portion in the manner shown in Figs. 1 through 3. It will be understood that in this form of my invention, the badge is adapted to be mounted on the lapel of the wearer, and in the accomplishment of said mounting, the spring clip 32 is depressed in wellknown fashion whereupon the lapel of the wearer may be slid between same and the rear surface of the badge 10 whereupon release of the spring finger 32 will cause the badge to be resiliently clamped against the front of the wearers lapel.

While the contour of the badge 10, and more specifically, the reduced width of web portion 14, is effective to 3 a certain extent in maintaining the badge and clip together as a unit during the mounting and dismounting thereof, it has been found that in many instances depression of spring finger 32 will cause the badge 10 to slip therefrom. Therefore, in order to obviate the necessity of having to hold the badge with one hand While the clip is being manipulated with the other during mounting and dismounting thereof, I find it desirable to provide the Web portion 14 with an adhesive patch 34. As' will be noted from Fig. l, the patch 34 is provided at the endmost portion of the web 14 and on the front surface thereof, whereby it is adapted to cooperate with the rear surface of bar 30 so as to maintain the mounting clip 28 and the badge 10 in assembled relation even when the former is depressed to its nongripping position. The adhesive patch 34 may be of any suitable form and is applied to the surface of web 14 at the specified portion thereof in any desirable way, such as spraying or the like.

The operation and use of the foregoing embodiment of my invention is thought to be obvious. Briefly, however, it will be understood that the insert card 28 having the proper indicia printed thereon is inserted Within the lower section pocket so that the indicia is visible through the opening or window 26. The card 20 may be so positioned either by unfolding the side fiaps 22 and rear wall 24 or else a slot (not shown) could be provided along one of the side edges, through which the card 20 could he slid. Once the card 20 is properly positioned, the clip member 28 is clamped over web portion 14 in the manner shown, whereupon the rear edge of bar 30 is adhesively gripped by the adhesive patch 34 provided on the front surface of web portion 14. The overall assembly is then clampingly mounted on a lapel or the like. When it is no longer necessary or desirable to utilize the convention badge 10, it may easily be separated from the mounting clip 28 whereupon the latter may function in its normal capacity as a tie holder. As will be noted, the clip 28 is preferably provided with an ornamental emblem 36 on its outer surface, said emblem being designed so as to have significance with respect to the particular organization that is convening, whereby the clip provides a lasting souvenir of the occasion and also a highly effective and attractive piece of organizational jewelry.

Figs. 6 through 9 illustrate slightly modified forms of the instant invention, which forms differ from the embodiment of Figs. 1 through 5 only in that the badge is adapted to be mounted by means of a brooch pin or lapel pin rather than by means of a tie holder. Thus, in Fig. 6, the badge generally indicated at 38 comprises an upper section 41), a Web portion 42, and a lower section 44 identical to the comparable sections of aforedescribed badge 10. In this form of my invention, however, the web portion 42 is provided with a pair of spaced openings 46 adapted to receive the pin portion 48 of brooch 50. It will be understood that the brooch 50, after being inserted through the holes 46 as illustrated, is adapted to be pinned in position on the wearers apparel wherever desirable. As in the aforedescribed embodiment of my invention, when the badge proper is discarded, the pin itself may continue to function in its normal capacity as a purely ornamental or decorative item.

In Fig. 7, the badge 52 is once again provided with upper and lower sections 54 and 56, respectively, and a connecting web 58. Since this form of my invention is designed for attachment by means of a lapel pin, only a single opening 60 is provided in the web 58, said opening being adapted to receive therethrough a conventional lapel pin such as shown at 62 in Fig. 9. The operation and use of this form of my invention is identical to that of the foregoing, and hence no further description is deemed necessary.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except in so far as indicated by the scope of the appended claim.

I cla m:

A convention badge comprising a substantially flat card-receiving section, said section having a pocket with a viewing Window in the front surface thereof, and mounting means associated with said badge for detachably securing same to the apparel of a wearer, said mounting means comprising a pair of clip arms pivotally mounted with respect to each other and normally urged into clamping engagement with an edge portion of said badge resiliently gripped therebetween, and an adhesive patch on one of the surfaces of said edge portion in engagement with one of said arms whereby when the arms are opened the badge will not automatically drop away therefrom, said mounting means being readily removable as a unit from said badge for separate use by opening said arms and forceably removing said engaged arm from said adhesive patch.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 234,210 Smith Nov. 9, 1880 299,000 Neubert May 20, 1884 650,962 Adams June 5, 1900 1,765,431 Kupfer June 24, 1930 2,441,002 Berglund May 4, 1948 2,699,618 Stupell Ian. 18, 1955 

